Qualities
There is an expansive number of associations with each element of the mandala, so that the mandala becomes a cipher and mnemonic visual thinking instrument and concept map; a vehicle for understanding and decoding the whole of the Dharma. Some of the associations include:
| Family/Buddha | Colour ← Element → Symbolism | Cardinality → Wisdom → Attachments → Gestures | Means → Maladaptation to Stress | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buddha/Vairocana | white ← space → wheel | center → all accommodating → form → Teaching the Dharma | Turning the Wheel of Dharma → ignorance | n/a |
| Vajra/Akshobhya | blue ← water → scepter, vajra | east → nondualist → consciousness → humility | protect, destroy → anger, hate | spring |
| Padma/Amitābha | red ← fire → lotus | west → inquisitive → perception → meditation | magnetize, subjugate → selfishness | summer |
| Ratna/Ratnasambhava | gold/yellow ← earth → jewel | south → equanimous → feeling → giving | enrich, increase → pride, greed | autumn |
| Karma/Amoghasiddhi | green ← air, wind → double vajras | north → all accomplishing → mental formation, concept → fearlessness | pacify → envy | winter |
The Five Wisdom Buddhas are protected by the Five Wisdom Kings, and in Japan are frequently depicted together in the Mandala of the Two Realms and are in the Shurangama Mantra revealed in the Shurangama Sutra. They each are often depicted with consorts, and preside over their own Pure Lands. In East Asia, the aspiration to be reborn in a pure land is the central point of Pure Land Buddhism. Although all five Buddhas have pure lands, it appears that only Sukhāvatī of Amitabha, and to a much lesser extent Abhirati of Akshobhya (where great masters like Vimalakirti and Milarepa are said to dwell) attracted aspirants.
| Buddha (Skt) | Consort | Dhyani Bodhisattva | Pure Land | seed syllable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vairocana | White Tara or Dharmadhatvishvari | Samantabhadra | central pure land Akanistha Ghanavyuha | Om |
| Akshobhya | Locanā | Vajrapāni | eastern pure land Abhirati | Hum |
| Amitābha | Pandara | Avalokiteshvara | western pure land Sukhāvatī | Hrih |
| Ratnasaṃbhava | Mamaki | Ratnapani | southern pure land Shrimat | Trah |
| Amoghasiddhi | Green Tara | Viśvapāni | northern pure land Prakuta | Ah |
Read more about this topic: Five Dhyani Buddhas
Famous quotes containing the word qualities:
“Adolescents swing from euphoric self-confidence and a kind of narcissistic strength in which they feel invulnerable and even immortal, to despair, self-emptiness, self-deprecation. At the same time they seem to see an emerging self that is unique and wonderful, they suffer an intense envy which tears narcissism into shreds, and makes other people’s qualities hit them like an attack of lasers.”
—Terri Apter (20th century)